"Help Me Keep It Open,
As the Editor
Views the News
rother---99
Welcome, Mr. President
Detroit's 250th Birthday Celebration will
be highlighted this Saturday by an address
by President Truman.
It is a great occasion for a great corn-
/flunky and it is thrilling to know that the
President of the United States considers this
event of sufficient importance to join with
us in honoring our important anniversary.
In welcoming the President, we join in
reiterating the wish that this Arsenal of
Democracy will continue to be a strong
force for peace and amity and for the ad-
vancement of the highest ideals of this great
land.
Detroit Jewry has played an important
role in the making of this great community.
Our leaders have shared in the planning of
the celebration. We rejoice in welcoming to
Detroit our President and the many dis-
tinguished national leaders who are sharing
with us the joy of this great birthday party.
`Ritual Murder' Smear First United
America to Act 100 Years Ago
By JUDAH GILEADI
An American Jewish Press Feature
The atrocious ritual murder charge against
the Jews of Damascus by Father Thomas, - in.
1840, marked the first efforts at unified defense
action by American Jews in behalf of their Euro-
pean brethren.
While Sir Moses Montefiore and Isaac Adolphe
Cremieux were intervening with the Egyptian
Pasha, a group of American Jews asked President
Van Buren, on Aug. 19, 1840, to seek a fair trial
for the maligned Egyptian Jews. Secretary of
State John Forsythe made it known that action
was taken in accordance with the requests of
American Jews who conducted protest meetings
against the outrageous lie in a number of cities.
'of Blood and Oil': Novel
Of Israeli Underground
Aid for Bond Drive
A Council of Organizations for the Israel
Bond Drive, organized here last week, has
for its objective the sale of at least one Israel
bond to every Jewish man, woman and child.
All the Detroit organizations are affiliat-
ed with this Council. Thus, every Detroit Jew
is in some fashion affiliated with the effort
to assure the possession of a bond by every
individual.
The Israel bond drive represents a chal-
lenge to all of us. It calls not for philanthropy
but for investment participation in Israel's
upbuilding. While it is supplementary to the
United Jewish. Appeal in its task of assuring
support in the supreme task of rehabilitating
hundreds of thousands of newcomers to Is-
rael, it assumes a position of first rank in
Jewish life because it marks a partnership
in Israel's economic tasks.
The Council of Organizations for the Is-
rael Bond Drive should be given all the sup-
port it needs to assure success in its efforts.
Through the organizations it is possible to
expand the bond sales. With a concerted ef-
fort this new activity can render very great
service in defense of Israel's economic po-
sition.
Abdullah and Israel
- LES
°ME
49,1"0,514 VeVikRAPN. Masi,
An Answer to Dorothy Thompson
The recently formed American Friends of the Middle
East, led by Dorothy Thompson, has received an answer to
its widely advertised statement of principles, in full page in-
sertions in the New York newspapers, from three noted his-
torians. •
As students of history and the Middle East's develop-
ment, Hedley V. Cooke, former American Vice-Consul in Je-
rusalem, Taraknath Das of the faculty of Columbia Uni-
versity and Emil. Lengyel of the faculty of New York Uni-
versity, in a letter to the New York Herald Tribune, while
hailing the Thompson group's desire to increase mutual un-
derstanding in the Middle East, nevertheless assert that the
proposed program left them "with the feeling that it fails
to come to grips with conditions of cardinal importance in
the situation."
The known anti-Zionist and anti-Israel attitude of Miss
Thompson and many of her followers cause the attachment
of special importance to the letter of these three eminent
students of conditions in the Middle East In their letter
they state:
"It is true that 'to defeat Communism the 200 million people
of the Middle East need more than bread alone. But they must
have bread first, and there are dangerously large segments of
them who are most inadequately fed, clothed, housed, healed
and educated. Cultural and spiritual understanding can mean
very little to the slum dwellers of Teheran to whom the Iranian
government recently pointed as a concrete argument in - their
case against the Anglo-Iranian Company. American respect for
their Islamic tradition will not seem very helpful to those
thousands of Egyptian peasants who last week stormed the
estate of a rich landowner, fighting bitterly for hours with the
police.
"If Communism is succeeding to some extent in capturing
the ancient Middle East faiths, it is because even the pious ad-
herents of those faiths cannot be immune to privation and
poverty and cannot fail to be swayed by Communism's promises
of a more equitable economic order. The success of Communism
in Catholic Italy and France is proof enough. What we plead -
for here is a less abstract, ethereal approach to the problems
of the Middle East and more concrete concern with the practical
economic and social reforms that translate ethical and religious
concepts into human reality.
"Those of us who love the Middle East and hope for its
progress and freedom must not forget its shockingly unhealthy
economic foundation, its low living standards, the blight of its
absentee landlordism. Unless these evils are tackled with our
considerate and generous help, we fear that little of real value
can be done to counter Communist penetration and secure the
free growth and development of the region's ancient faiths and
cultures. American co-operation with constructive trade-union
and co-operative groups and with such promising governmental
experiments as the still too limited Egyptian Village Improve-
ment scheme can give great impetus to native beginnings. Of
primary and perhaps even crucial importance is the Adminis-
tration's proposed foreign-aid program to the Near East. En-
lightened use of the $125 million asked for economic aid to the
Middle East, including Iran, Libya and Israel, would raise living •
standards, facilitate United Nations resettlement of the Arab
refugees, divert local energies from political frictions to con-
structive work."
King Abdullah of Jordan was ,prevented
from making peace with Israel by the Arab
states, under pressure from the former Mufti
of Jerusalem. There were feuds in his palace
which were engineered by the Ex-Mufti. Ab-
dullah's death revives suspicions that most of
the troubles in the Middle East are attribut-
able to the conspiracies of the former Arab
religious leader.
For Israel and for the equilibrium of the
entire Middle East, the assassination of Ab-
dullah is a serious blow. It may postpone
peace and may add to the troubles which
compel that entire area to remain in a state
of war.
Israel now must redouble her guards on
the Jordan border. She must be doubly alert
against possible attacks from the enemies
that surround her.
A redeeming feature in the entire situa-
tion is the part of Great Britain in Jordan
politics. The presence of British troops un-
doubtedly will keep the Mufti and his co-
horts from Jordan.
The world's democratic powers may be
compelled to exert influence to prevent as-
sumption of power in Jordan by ultra-reac-
tionary forces. The chief aim is to effect
peace in the Middle East, and for that pur-
pose it is important that reason and amity
should be restored and, if necessary, enforced
by the United Nations.
THE JEWISH NEWS
The concluding paragraph of their statement is of spe-
cial interest. Messrs. Cooke, Das and Lengyel point out that
"without concrete steps toward economic progress, it is dif-
ficult to conceive of a Middle East marked by genuine toler-
Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
papers, Michigan Press Association.
ance and cultural and social cooperation between the re-
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
Co. 708-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., W0.5-1155.
gion's various groups—Christian, Jewish and Moslem. The
Subscription $4 a year; foreign $5.
urgencies of the time make this intergroup relationship im-
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office,
perative. We dare not now be party to the playing of one
Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
group against another. The stakes are too large and too
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
meaningful for all men."
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager
The unfortunate attitude adopted by Miss Thompson
Vol. XIX—No. 20.
Page 4
July 2'7, 1951 and some of her associates compels emphasis upon the point
that Americans "dare not be party to the playing of one
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
group against another." The Thompson organization's aims
. - This Sabbath, the twenty-fourth day of have been interpreted as aiming at pitting Arabs against
Tammuz, 5711, the following selections will be the Jews, at mobilizinc, sentiment in this country against. Is-
read in our synagogues:
rael. If that attitude should be pursued, it will be necessary
Pentateuchal portion—Num. 25:10-30:1.
to expose the unfair approach of these "American Friends
Prophetical portion—ler. 1:1-2:3.
of the Middle East." Messrs. Cooke, Das and Lengyel al-
Next Friday, Rosh Hodesh Ab, Num. 28:1-15 ready have rendered an important service with their logical
will beread during morning services..
statement.
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
commencing with issue of July 20,1951
A-411 41.
•-•
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111--
QV.
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-GS, 7.- a- .7.- 617, 41, 0-
.•
All the excitement that accompanied the
struggle for independence in Palestine is incoi-
porated in "Of Blood and Oil: With the Israeli
Underground," a novel by Dr. Erwin Arnovitz,
31-year-old University of Pittsburgh graduate,
who is practicing medicine in Duquesne, Pa.
Exposition Press, (386 4th, N. Y. 16), publishers
of this brief but interesting novel, revealed this
week that a series of letters received by Dr.
Arnovitz from the late Dr. Chaim Sersen, who
fought in the Negev with the Israel forces under
an assumed name, supplied the background fOr
the new novel.
"Of Blood and Oil" is the story of the Ameri-
can physician who was drawn into the conflict
for Israel's freedom. There are inner struggles
which disturb our hero who was attracted into
the movement by a young girl who came to
enlist his efforts. In the course of time, he be-
comes an important part of the fighting ele-
ments.
It is the story of an idealist, of a man who
sheds cynicism to make himself an important
cog in a rapidly-moving wheel that strives for
progress by means of arms. •
The tough fighting is described in all its real-
ism. From the experiences with his brothers-in-
arms, Dr. Fabian regains his own strength of
character, the warmth of his feelings for his
fellow-men, the devotion with which he threw
himself into the struggle for liberty.
"Of Blood and Oil" ends with an interesting
note referring to the reopening of the road to
Jerusalem. As "the President cut the ribbon
across the road . . . there was scarcely a dry eye
as we watched a tired old man at the head of a
beaten, tortured and murdered people straight-
ening his back and going on." That's it: the
-story of a people straightening its back and
winning by force of arms. This novel will be
read with keen interest by all who show concern
over Israel's past and future.
Cantor Wald man's Records
Three 45 RPM RCA Victor records just issued,
presenting six liturgical selections by Cantor
Leibele Waldman, are certain to attract wide
interest.
Accompanied at the organ by Abe Ellstein,
Cantor Waldman does a magnificent job of in-
terpreting "L'Fichoch Anachnu Chayovim," "Al
Horishonim," "Sarfe Maloh," "Ki Keshimcho,"
"Zochrenu beZikoren" and "Odom Yesede
Meofor."
The latter is especially well sung. In all of
them, Cantor Waldman infuses the traditional
spirit. His fine voice vibrates through the series
of recordings. The young synagogue singer adds
to his glory as a liturgical music interpreter with
his new products.
Facts You Should Know:
What are the "three weeks" occurring this
year from July 22 to Aug. 12 and why are they
observed so mournfully?
The "three weeks" is the name given to the
period which occurs annually between two fast
days, i.e., the fast of the seventeenth of Tam-
muz and the Fast of the Ninth of Ab. This
three week period is observed in state of semi-
mourning. Marriages are not permitted. Many
do not take hair cuts. Many do not eat meat
or drink wine. The two fasts commemorate
mournful occasions which had to do with the
destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The
Seventeenth of Tammuz commemorates the
breach in the wall of Jerusalem made by the
Romans while the Ninth of Ab represents the
actual date of the destruction of both Temples.
The interim period between the two dates is thus
regarded as the period of mourning for that
destruction.
Does the Talmud justify vengeance?
On the contrary, the Talmud advises against
it. Here are a few quotations in proof: "A man
should always be of the pursued and not of the
pursuers" (B.K. 93a). "Be the cursed and not
the curser" (San 49a). Humility is one of the
great ideas promulgated by our rabbis who teach
that 'the abusers will suffer the fate of those they
seek to destroy, as the Psalmist. says: "He who
digs a ditch for others shall fall therein."